THE HAGUE: Israel and South Africa face off at the United Nations’ top court from Thursday, following Pretoria accused Israel of “genocidal acts” in the Gaza Strip.
In an 84-page submission to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), South Africa pleaded judges to order Israel to “immediately stop its military offensive” in the Gaza Strip.
South Africa also alleges that Israel “has engaged in, is engaging in, and jeopardies further engaging in genocidal action against the people of Palestine in the Gaza Strip”.
Top officials from the two sides will face off in the world court’s Great Hall of Justice housed in the extravagant Peace Palace in The Hague — a world away from the death and massive destruction seen recently in the Gaza Strip.
War on Gaza: Israel Faces ‘Genocide’ Case at ICJ
Earlier, Malaysia and Turkey announced to support South Africa’s ICJ genocide case against Israel.
The Malaysia Foreign Ministry stated that it “welcomes the petition by SA instituting hearing against Israel… concerning the grave violations by Israel of its obligations under the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in relation to the people of Palestine in Gaza.
Turkish Foreign Ministry said that those responsible for the killing of tens of thousands of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since Oct 7 “should be held accountable before the global law. The spokesperson said that “Israel’s killer Palestinian civilians in Gaza for nearly three months must not go unpunished in any way.
South Africa wants to International Court of Justice (ICJ) to immediately order Israel to suspend its military operations in the Gaza Strip.
The South African plea, filed last Friday, linked to serious violations by Israel of its obligations as per the Genocide Convention, adding that “Israel has engaged in, is engaging in and risks more engaging in genocidal actions against the people of Palestine in the Gaza Strip.”
South Africa, amongst other immediate steps, is asking the ICJ to order that “Israel shall immediately end its military operations in Gaza” and that both sides “take all reasonable steps within their power to stop genocide.”
